NORTHEAST GEORGIA BLOG

I’ve noticed that we’re in the middle of an election year.  I’ve also noticed that during an election year, particularly when there is a Presidential election on the horizon, the opposing political party starts slamming the economy in hopes of actually creating an economic downturn by influencing retailers and the financial markets.  They can create the problem…and then offer up a fix.  Surely we won’t fall for this one again, we’re much too informed now - we have access to more information than anybody in world history.  Let’s take a look at reality as it stands today:

1) We’re not in a recession.  We’re not even close.  A recession is 2 consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth - that’s six months.  We’ve yet to have ONE month of negative GDP growth.   So the next time you hear the “r” word - just brush it off as rhetoric aimed at the uninformed.

2) Unemployment.  Most credible economists are of the opinion that 5% unemployment is considered “full employment”.  We’re at about 5.2%.  Hardly a problem.  In fact, when you talk to small business owners across northeast Georgia - they can’t find employees.  Again…this rhetoric is aimed at the uninformed.

These are just a couple of issues that bother me.  Now…if in fact we look at the next quarter and we have had negative growth - then we can start discussing the POSSIBILITY that we MIGHT enter into a recession, although very doubtful considering the second half of the year is generally much better and we’ll be heading into November - election day.  Ditto with unemployment figures - when you see 8% then start to get concerned.

Do we have issues?  Of course we do.  Oil is killing us - we need to attack that problem with a vengeance.  Spending too much of our tax money - extreme problem that needs addressing.  Are there people out of work…of course; there always will be people out of work.  Are there people without healthcare insurance?  Sure - and too many.  That problem needs to be addressed but turning over the healthcare problem to the federal government would be like hiring Michael Vick to run the local Humane Society.

I’m done.  I just needed to vent.  I hate it when elected officials and candidates talk to me like I’m an uninformed idiot.

Filed under: Politics